A property manager has won a sexual harassment and wrongful dismissal case against a company and its boss, who invited her to Turkey to "do fun stuff".

Frances MacDonald's ordeal began after she applied for a role as a PA and property manager at Thetford-based Alpha Property Management and Services in February 2021.

An employment tribunal at Bury St Edmunds heard its director Dilawar Khan bombarded her with text messages around the clock.

One shortly after she applied for the job said: "Talking of sports we will have to go to Turkey together… I have an apartment down south in the blue lagoons and we can do all the fun stuff."

In another, Mr Khan told her: "I need sex when I’m stressed."

Ms MacDonald said in evidence she felt these and other messages "were sexual in nature and she felt extremely uncomfortable".

After she began working for Mr Khan on May 4, 2021, he continually berated her.

He later added: "Women are so good at excuses that I get bored.”

On the evening of Friday, May 14 that year, Ms MacDonald said in evidence she was called by Mr Khan, who criticised her for 30 minutes asking how she could forget things and told her: "This isn't going to work."

He then continued to criticise her in WhatsApp messages.

By the following week, she was not sleeping, crying and experiencing migraines and suicidal thoughts.

On May 25, she was signed off work for two weeks. On checking her messages, she found Mr Khan had sacked her after she failed to answer a phone call.

He demanded she meet him at 9am to return company property.

But Ms MacDonald replied: "I will not be meeting you in person as I have already suffered enough severe bullying, harassment and sexual harassment from you."

Mr Khan responded: "You have until 9am to return my stuff and all the money by 5pm. Otherwise you will be reported to the police and I will send my people to your house to get it.

"Believe me you don’t want to mess around with me."

The tribunal found Mr Khan's messages "had the effect of violating [Ms Macdonald's] dignity and creating an intimidating, degrading, humiliating and offensive environment for her".

Employment judges Moore, Salmon and Durrant agreed her claim for wrongful dismissal, unpaid wages of £814.23 and unpaid holiday pay of £64.60.

They also ruled in her favour on claims of sexual harassment.

A counterclaim for £2,750 in respect of training costs was dismissed.

The case will now be listed for a further hearing to consider compensation.